Extension-step for railroad-cars.



' PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905. E. SIRO'IS.

EXTENSION STEP FOB. RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

13. SIROIS. EXTENSION STEP FOR RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 29.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

(Juvemfoz wi H1 aoaca No. 804,062. PATENTBD NOV. '7, 1905.

E. SIROIS.

EXTENSION STEP FOR RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E S [r0251 UNITE STATES PATENT DFFTUE.

EXTENSION-STEP FOR RAILROAD-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.-

Application filed July 29, 1905. Serial No. 271,750.

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EUCHARISTE SiRoIs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Extension-Steps for Railroad- Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an extension-step for railroad-cars.

One object of the invention is to provide an easily and conveniently operated extensionstep, which may be projected below the stationary platform-steps to permit passengers to enter and leave a car with less exertion and without using the footstool commonly employed. I

Another object is to provide improved means for supporting, locking, releasing, and elevating the extension-step, so as to enable it to have free movement and to be easily controlled.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an inner end view of a car-platform and steps embodying my invention, the extension-step being lowered for use. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the car-platform, showing the steps in rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the extension-step projected. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the hollow crank shaft or sleeve, showing the elevatingshaft and the catch, the latter appearing in horizontal section; and Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, are detail views of parts of the device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a car-plat form, and 2 the permanent steps at one side thereof, both being of ordinary construction. Fixed to the rear of the step is a supportingframe comprising upper and lower transverse bars 3 and 4, a central plate 5, and a longitudinal side bar 6. Rods 7 extend longitudinally between the bars 3 and 4: on opposite sides of the plate 2 and are fixed at their lower ends to the bar 1 and at their upper ends to a bracket 8, fastened to the riser of the upper permanent step 2, thus supporting the upper end of the frame. The lower end of the frame is supported by angular brackets 9, each bracket having one of its arms fixed to the adjacent side of the platform-step and its other arm formed with a longitudinal slot 10 for the reception of a bolt 11, securing it to the bar 4. This mode of fastening the lower end of the frame provides for the attachment of the same to the sides of steps varying in width. Arms 12 project rearwardly from the bars 3 and 1 and support rods 7, which are disposed in rear of and in parallel relation; with the rods 7 to form trackrails.

The extension-step 13 is fixed to a supporting-plate 14, carried by the lower ends of a pair of rods or bars 15, connected adjacent their upper ends by a cross-bar 16, thus forming a traveling carriage to support the extension-step. The bars or side arms 15 of the carriage slide between the rods 7 and carry friction rollers 17 to run upon the same. Fixed to the bar 4 are also pairs of spaced brackets 18, between which the bars 15 slide, and which carry rollers 19 to engage and support said bars. The carriage of the extension-step is thus slidably mounted upon the supporting-frame and is adapted to drop by gravity to projected position, the roller-supports permitting the carriage to have free sliding movement. The downward movement of the carriage is limited by stop-brackets 20, ad justably secured to the bar 1, and with which the cross-bar 16 of the carriage is adapted to contact.

Acatch 21 is pivoted at its upper end upon the rear side of the plate 5 and is provided with a lower beveled face 22, leading to a locking-shoulder 23, adapted to be engaged by a hook 24, carried by a rack-bar 25, fixed at its lower end to the carriage of the extension-step and slidably mounted at its upper end in a guide 26, carried by the plate 5. The hook 24 is adapted when the carriage is elevated to rise on the beveled face 22 of the catch and swing the lower or free end thereof inward and then snap into engagement with the shoulder 23 to lock the carriage in elevated position.

The teeth of the rack-bar 25 mesh with a gear 27, fixed upon one end of a shaft 28, journaled at its inner end in a bearing 29, carried by the plate 5, the said plate 5 and catch 21 being formed, respectively, with slots and 31 for the reception of said gear and to permit the catch to swing without interfering therewith. The shaft 28 is journaled at its outer end in a bracket 32, fixed to the bar 6 and carrying a gear 33. Meshing with the gear 33 is a rack-bar 34, arranged to reciprocate in a guide 35, fixed to the inner side of the platform-steps and projecting upwardly through the platform and suitably mounted at its upper end in the adjacent end wall of the car. The upper end of the rack terminates in an operating-rod 36, provided at its upper or free end with a handle or fingerpiece 37, projecting outwardly from said guide for operation. When the extensionstep drops by gravity, the rack-bar 25 transfers motion to the shaft 28 and the gear 33 thereon forces the rack 34 upwardly in the guide 35. The extension-step may therefore be elevated from the platform by depressing the handle or foot-piece 37, as will be readily understood. The extension-step may, however, be raised bodily, if desired.

Inclosing the shaft 28 is a hollow shaft or sleeve 38, which is journaled at its inner end in an open bearing 39, formed in the side of the catch 21. Fixed to the inner .end of this sleeve is a crank-arm 40, carrying a laterallyprojecting pin 41, fitting in an elongated socket 42, formed in the catch, whereby when said shaft or sleeve 38 is rocked the catch will be swung toward or from the raclobar 25, its movement away from said rack-bar releasing it from the hook 24, thus permitting the extension-step to drop. The shaft 38 is also provided at its outer end with'a trip-arm 43, adapted to be engaged by a trip-finger 44, carried by a releasing-lever 45, intermediate] y pivoted at 46 to one side of the steps 2 and provided at its outer end with an operating member 47. By actuating this lever the catch may be retracted by a person standing on the ground to drop the extension-step. The trip member 43 is also adapted to be engaged'by a trip-finger 48, carried by an operating-stem 49, slidably mounted in a guide 50, projecting through the platform and provided at its upper end with afoot-piece 51, adapted when depressed to transfer motion to the arm 43 to rock the shaft 38, and thereby retract the catch, thus enabling the extension-step to be dropped or projected by a person standing on the platform. The catch is automatically projected by gravity and restores the trip-arm 43 to normal position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In an extension-step for cars, a movable frame carrying a step, and gearing set for operation by the projection of said frame and adapted to be reversely moved to elevate the frame and retract the step.

2. In an extension-step for cars, a movable frame carrying a step, rack-and-pinion gearing for elevating said frame and step, said gearing being setfor operation by the projection of the frame and step, and means for operating the rack.

3. In an extension-step for cars, the combination of asupporting-frame, agravity-projected traveling carriage carrying an exterr sion-step, gearing set for operation by the projection of said carriage and adapted to be reversely moved to elevate the carriage and retract the step, latch mechanism for holding and releasing the carriage, and roller-guide supports on the frame and carriage for guid ing the carriage in itsmovements.

4. In an extension-step for cars, the combination of a supporting-frame, a gravity-projected carri ge slid ably mounted on said frame;

and carrying an eXtension-step, latch mechanism for holding the carriage elevated, gearing set for operation by the projection of said carriage and adapted to be reversely moved to elevate the same and retract the step, and means for releasing said latch mechanism to permit the carriage to drop.

5. In an extension-step for cars, the combination of a supporting-frame, a gravity-projected carriage slidably mounted on said frame and carrying an extension-step, gearing set for operation by the projection of said carriage and adapted to be reversely moved to elevate the same and retract the step, latch mechanism embodying a pivoted catch for holding the carriage elevated, a releasing device for retracting said pivoted catch, and means for operating said releasing device.

6. In an extension-step for cars, the combination of a supporting-frame, agravity-projected carriage slidably mounted on said frame and carrying an extension-step, a rack-bar mounted on the carriage, a shaft carried by the frame and carrying pinions, one meshing with said rack-bar, a second rack-bar meshingwith the other pinion, said shaft being operated by the carriage to set said second rackbar for operation, and means for reversely operating said second rack-bar for e evating the carriage.

7. In an extension-step for cars, the combination of a supporting-frame, a carriage slidably mounted-thereon and carrying an extension-step, a catch member and a rack, a pivoted catch on the frame adapted to engage said catch member to hold the carriage elevated, a shaft mounted and carrying gears, one meshing With said rack, a second rack meshing with the other gear and moved in one direction thereby when the carriage is projected, means for moving said second rack in the opposite direction to elevate the carriage, and means for tripping the pivoted catch to release the carriage.

8. In an extension-step for cars, a frame, a sliding carriage carrying an eXtension-s'ep and a rack-bar, ashaft on the frame provided with pinions, one meshing with said rack-bar, a pivoted catch on the frame to engage the carriage and hold it elevated, a hollow shaft mounted on the first-named shaft and having a crank-arm operatively connected to the catch, means for rocking said shaft to tilt and retract the catch, and a rack engaging the IIO other pinion on the first-named shaft to permit the gearing to reversely operate it to elevate the carriage.

9. In an extension-step for cars, a supporting-frame, a carriage slidably mounted thereon and carrying an extension-step, a rack-bar carried by the carriage, an elevating-shaft carried by the frame and provided With pinions, one meshing With said rack-bar, a second rack-bar meshing with the other pinion and adapted to be operated to elevate the carriage, a pivoted latch for holding the carriage elevated, a hollow shaft or sleeve surrounding the first-named shaft and provided With a crank-arm connected With the latch, and means for rocking said hollow shaft to retract the latch and release the carriage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

EUQHARISTE SIROIS.

Witnesses:

W. A. SMITH, PERCY A. PHILLIPS. 

